Sports

Premier League title race tightens courtesy of Harry Kane

Sports Desk, Feb 19 (EFE).- Harry Kane had a brace Saturday to power Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 over Premier League leaders Manchester City, who saw their advantage over Liverpool narrow to 6 points.

Amid a run of bad form, Spurs were hardly favored against the defending champions at the Etihad, but Dejan Kulusevki staked the visitors to an early lead with a goal in the 4th minute.

The Swedish international was making his first start for the London side since coming over from Juventus on loan.

City, who would end the match with 72 percent possession and outshoot their opponents 21-6, drew level in the 34th minute with Ilkay Gündogan’s goal.

The German fired into the open net after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris failed to smother Raheem Sterling’s cross.

Spurs reclaimed the lead in the 59th minute, as Kane beat Ederson from close range with an assist from Heung-min Song, his second of the game.

Kane appeared to make it 3-1 in the 74th, but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

The hosts’ prospects brightened when they were awarded a penalty for Cristian Romero’s hand ball and Riyad Mahrez converted for the 10th time in his last 10 attempts to knot the score at 2-2.

Well into stoppage time, a ball across the front of goal from Kulusevki found Kane and the England captain bested Ederson with a downward header for the 3-2 victory.

City’s first defeat in the Premier League left them on 63 points. Spurs are seventh with 39 points.

Hours earlier at Anfield, Liverpool were held scoreless in the first half by last-place Norwich City, who then went ahead in the 48th minute with a goal by Milot Rashica.

The Canaries were still up 1-0 as the contest entered the final 30 minutes, but Sadio Mane equalized for the Reds in the 64th with a spectacular overhead kick.

Three minutes later, Mohamed Salah transformed a booming goal kick from Alisson to give Liverpool the advantage and Luis Diaz made it 3-1 for the hosts in the 81st minute with his first goal since joining the club last month.

Liverpool improved to 57 points and they have a game in hand on Man City.

Third-place Chelsea eked out a 1-0 result against Crystal Palace to go to 50 points, 7 better than Manchester United in the fourth spot.

Hakim Ziyech scored in the 89th minute to give the Club World Cup champions the victory in match where both teams squandered chances.

In another London derby, Arsenal edged Brentford 2-1. The Gunners took command with goals from Emile Smith Rowe (48th) and Bukayo Saka (79th) before Christian Norgaard clawed one back for the Bees in stoppage time.

Arsenal are sixth on 42 points, the same as fifth-place West Ham and just a point behind Man United. EFE

apa/dr

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